Leeds Brewery’s fifth pub opens

The White Swan has opened on Swan Street after a two-month refurbishment, having been closed for several years.

Leased from Leeds City Council, it holds 340 covers across a large open room and mezzanine floor, which has a baby grand piano.

As it stands next to the refurbished Leeds City Varieties theatre, direct access to the box office and stalls has been created, linking the pub to the theatre for the first time in years.

Leeds Brewery beers are used in several dishes on the menu, including Leeds Pale battered British squid with garlic mayonnaise & lemon (£5.50), Leeds Best battered fish & chips with Yorkshire caviar, tartar sauce, twice-cooked chips & lemon (£9.50) and posh Leeds Pale battered fish finger sandwich with tartar sauce & rocket (£5.25).

“It is going really well,” said general manager James Wheater.

“We haven’t done much promoting or marketing yet but will start to flyer at key times soon. We do open mic nights twice a month and are starting to introduce some acoustic nights. Food is being very well received.

“Being next to the theatre we get a lot of pre-theatre drinkers and hopefully we’ll have more trade during intervals too, through our adjoined doors. It will take a bit of time to catch on.

“Christmas is incredibly busy for us already and Fridays to Sundays are absolutely packed out. The beginning of the week is a bit slower, but it is very inconsistent at the moment.”
Wheater introduced a pre-theatre menu last week from 5pm to 7pm at £10.95 for two courses and £12.95 for three.

The brewery and its flagship site, the Midnight Bell, also in the city centre, featured earlier this month in TV series Jamie’s Great Britain and the accompanying book. Oliver spent a day at the pub and brewery sampling the food and beer.